Dark Rider Read Free Page A

nearer to that warmth.
    “Why … should I?” she asked again.
    “Because you have a kind heart.”
    “You don’t know that I do. You don’t know anything about me.”
    “I know that you were concerned about your friends. Surely that denotes a kind heart.”
    “It’s easy to give kindness to friends. You’re a stranger.”
    His smile faded and he looked out at the sea. “Yes, I am.”
    Loneliness. She had the sudden feeling that he was speaking of a constant state, and felt an odd sense of kinship. She knew about loneliness.
    Foolishness. He was a nobleman, and Lihua hadcertainly not found anything in him to pity. Yet Cassie found herself saying haltingly, “If you’re asking forgiveness, then I give it freely.”
    He turned to look at her. “Do you? How extraordinarily generous.” When he saw her frown with uncertainty, he shook his head. “No, I’m not being sarcastic. I believe you mean it, and the women to whom I’m accustomed give nothing freely.” He smiled crookedly. “But, then, you’re not yet a woman. You have time to learn the way of it.”
    The flare of annoyance burned away any pity she had felt for him. “It’s no wonder you must pay for your pleasure when you make stupid judgments and your tongue stings like an adder.”
    He chuckled with genuine humor. “My tongue can do other things than sting. I must show you—” He broke off and sighed. “I keep forgetting that you’re not fair sport. I think we’d best discuss something of mutual interest.” He glanced over his shoulder at the palm thicket from which he had emerged. “Is that your horse tied to the tree?”
    “Yes.”
    “A fine stallion. I might be interested in buying him, but first I’ll have to watch him move. I’ve seldom seen a more splendid animal.”
    “He’s not for sale.” She added flatly, “And you’ve
never
seen a more splendid animal. Kapu is without equal.”
    He threw back his head and laughed. “I beg to disagree, but I approve your loyalty. How did you come by him? I’ve never heard of islanders raising horses.”
    “You’ve not been here long. How could you know anything about us?”
    “I’ve annoyed you again.”
    He did annoy her. His easy assurance made her feel uncertain, and his physical presence was most disturbing. She sensed the heat of his body only a few feet away and caught the aroma of musk and leather that surrounded him. So different from the men of the village, who carried the scent of salt and fish and the oil of coconut; different also from her father, who usually smelled of brandy and a lemony cologne. Everything about Jared Danemount was different; she had the impression of tremendous strength in spite of his lithe leanness. His light eyes were either blue or gray and very cool. No, that was wrong, they were hot. No … she didn’t know what they were, but looking into them was making her uncomfortable. She said in a rush, “You think you have a horse finer than Kapu?”
    “I know I have a horse finer than your stallion.”
    She felt another flare of annoyance at his confidence. “Only a fool would make such a claim after one glance at a horse.”
    “I took more than a glance. I’ve never been able to resist good horseflesh, and I had a chance to examine him very closely while you and your friends were playing on the beach.” He smiled. “It was only when the conversation became so interesting that I was distracted.”
    She stiffened. “How close to him?”
    “Enough to note the usual things—hooves, teeth …”
    “You lie,” she said curtly. “Kapu would never let anyone that close. I would have heard him.”
    “But you didn’t.”
    “And you would not be here now. The last time anyone tried to check Kapu’s teeth, he lost a finger.”
    “Perhaps he likes me. Horses have been known to find me trustworthy.”
    “You lie,” she repeated. It could not be true. Kapu belonged only to her.
    His smile disappeared. “I don’t lie. I may be guilty of many